ASIA/SRI LANKA - The Bishops, between the Pope's visit and elections: "The visit will take place without any problems"

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - "Our request to the government has always been that the elections should not be held immediately after the Pope's visit to Sri Lanka, because the event could be used politically by stakeholders as a means of campaigning. If elections are held before the visit, we will make sure that the preparations for the Pope's pilgrimage are not disturbed. We have appealed to the President so that there is sufficient time between the two events and we have been assured that everything will be done in such a way so that the visit runs smoothly": this is what an official statement of the Bishops of Sri Lanka, sent to Agenzia Fides says, in response to the persistent rumors circulating in the press and on social networks, which cast doubts on the Pope's visit to the Asian country in January 2015.
The statement, signed by Bishop Raymond Wickramasinghe, Chairman of the special "Secretariat for the media on the Pope’s visit", seeks to clarify and to say a final word on the matter, subject of heavy speculation in the national press.
The press release states: "The decision to hold elections and set a date for the elections is entirely in the hands of the government and the Election Commission. The Church has no interest in trying to interfere. In no way the President or other members of the government have been trying to put pressure on the Church to stop or delay the Pope's visit to Sri Lanka".
In fact, adds the text sent to Agenzia Fides, "civil authorities have provided us with extensive cooperation and support for all necessary arrangements for the visit".
"The government has also - continues the statement - informed us that the President, when he visited the Pope at the Vatican, insisted that he would have welcomed him in Sri Lanka with great warmth".
The statement launches an appeal "to all parties concerned, so that they do not exploits the Pope's visit to Sri Lanka" and concludes: "We hope and pray that we will be able to welcome the Holy Father with the traditional hospitality and we ask everyone to work together to make this event a success". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 03/11/2014)